Method of constructing masonry structures.



No. 838,389. I PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906. H. DAYDE & A. PILLE. METHOD OFOONSTRUGTING MASONRY STRUCTURES.

APPLICATION FILE D MAY 6, 19044 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WJW

THE NORRIS PETERS cu., WASHINGTON, DJ:-

No. 838,389. PATENTED DEG.11, 1906. H. DAYDE 80A. PILLE.

METHOD OF GONSTRUGTING MASONRY STRUCTURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6.1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m. N H, m

No. 888,389. I PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906. H. DAYDE & A. PILLE. METHOD OFCONSTRUCTING MASONRY STRUCTURES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1904.

6 SHEETSSHBET '1.

No. 838,389. PATENTED DBG.11, 190.6. H. DAYn & A. PILL.

METHOD OF GONSTRUGTING' MASONRY STRUCTURES. APPLICATION FILED MAY0,1904.

5 SHEET$-SHEET 5.

' tion hitherto in use.

UNITE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING MASONRY STRUCTURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed May 6, 1904:. Serial No. 206,707-

To all whom, it Wuty concern:

Be it known that we, HENRI DAYDE and AUGUSTE PILLI'J, citizens of theRepublic of France, and residents of Paris, France, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Constructing MasonryStructures in Rivers, more particularly applicable to subfluvialtunnels, (for which we have filed in France a patent June 18, 1903, towhich corresponds a patent of addition of March 24, 1904,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

The method of construction forming the subject of the present inventionhas for its object the construction of masonry struc tures inrapidly-flowing rivers especially, and also of subfluvial tunnelsthrough readilyunderminable permeable soil; and it permits to obviatedifliculties which cannot be satis factorily overcome by the means ofconstruc- The said method consists in combining together guide piers andjunction or shaft pieces or sections in alternating series, intimatelybinding the same together by means of a system of rabbets formed inthese piers and assembling the sections and the piers so as toconstitute a solid body, the manner of combining said piers with thejunction or shaft sections permitting of the construction of continuousor noncontinuous masonry structures being carried on at will.

For the practical application of the constructing tunnels in sections orsectional parts, particularly in the case of rapid-flowing rivers, it isabsolutely necessary, from the point of view of stability of the entirestructure to insure perfect stability and immobility of the points ofjunction of each section. The improved method allows of this resultbeing attained, the guide-piers insuring the required stability.

According to the present invention a perfectly solid structure isprovided by the guidepiers, which have the maximum resistance toshifting by reason of their special form and the strengthening of thecaissons by metal roofs, whereby any strain of shifting is transmittedfrom one rabbet to the opposite rabbet, and so to the entire body of thepier, thus bringing into play the resistance to shifting of the entirebase, and consequently the total weight of the monolith.

Figures 1 and 3 are plan views. Fig. 2 is a sectional view transverse tothe stream and longitudinally of the tunnel. Figs. 4 and 7 aretransverse sections of the tunnel in position. Fig. 5 is an elevation ofthe guidepier and the end of a tunnel-section, showing also appliancesfor lowering the section. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is aplan view of part of a tunnel-section and its guide-pier, partly inhorizontal section. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section showingfeatures of the procedure in construction. Fig. 10 is a plan view,partly in section, illustrating details. Fig. 11 is an elevation, andFig. 12 a plan.

Subfluvial tunnels constructed according to the improved method aretherefore constituted, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, by means ofguide or abutment piers or blocks 1 and tunnel-sections 2, suitablycoupled together by special joints, and the following description willindicate the sequence of steps or acts performed in the practice of thesaid improved method.

Piers 1, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the dimensions and spacing of which aredetermined for each case by consideration of stability, navigation, &c.,are sunk in the direction of the current by the well-known pneumaticsystem. These guide-piers may or may not be furnished with starlings 3,disposed in the direction of the current, as is usual with ordinarypiers. The position of these guide-piers need not be eXact,andvariations in the setting thereof are of no consequence. In any casethese piers constitute fixed points for assembling the sections of thetunnel. It is sufficient to provide the said piers with an appropriatelylarge base and set their foundation at the necessary depth. Rabbets 4,formed by their projecting walls, will hold the masonry lengths ortunnel-sections 2 placed across the current.

The masonry is built up in the open airunder shelter of protector-platessurmounting the working chamber in proportion with the advance of thework and according to the depth above the platform of the workingchamber. The height of the masonry is limited at a suitable level,determined by the dimensions of the tunnel, by means of a secondplatform 5, Fig. 9. g

In the middle of each face of the piers through which the tunnel is topass a recess is formed in the entire height of the pier or structurefrom the cutter 6, Fig. 5, of the working chamber to the platform 5,which is surmounted by rigid coder-dams 7, the top of which are abovethe level 8 8 of the water.

These cofier-dams have their inner faces 9 set off from the faces 10 ofthe recesses, so as to leave a space 11 capable of receiving planks ofwood 12, Fig. 8, to serve to guide the shafts while being lowered. Thesecofierdams are of sufliciently strong construction to resist thepressure of the current on the shafts then being lowered and moored inposition. To this end they are formed of removable andeasily-transportable panels or plates and are bolted together and calkedwith india-rubber between the adjacent or abutting faces.

The placing of the coifer-dams into position is easily effected eitherby floating the panels to the spot or by lowering the dams in theirentirety by means of floating-sheers.

The platform 5 is strengthened by liners or stiffeners 13, Fig. 6,forming stays or tie-bars and connecting the two heads of the piers 1 insuch a way that a tendency to shifting of one of the coifendams 7 is metby the entire block or pier, said stays or tie-bars traversing theapertures of the base of the cofferdams.

At the upper part of the coiferdams of the guide-piers are arrangedgirders 14:, Fig. 5, serving as supports for powerful lifting-jacks 15,the purpose of which is to carry and lower the tunnel-sections 2 intoposition, so as to insure their proper grounding or bedding what everthe inequalities of the bed. The up rights 17 of these jacks, the weightof which is comparatively heavy, are suspended from counterpoised beams,jackstays, or arms 18, so as to render their operation easy and rapid.

Between the guide-piers established as above specified transversetunnel-sections are established in the following manner. The masonry ofeach such section of tunnel, Figs. 7 and 8, is built in the open underthe shelter of protector plates or covers capping the work ing chamber,and the crown 19 of each tunnelsection2is supported by metal centerings21, bearing on the floor 22. A roofing 23 separates the masonry from thewater. The ends of each tunnel-section are provided with heads 24extending the entire height of the said piece and constituting anenlargement or tenon to engage the rabbets 4 of the guidepiers 1 whileleaving a slight play at each side. The thickness of these heads in thedirection of the length of the section is deter mined only after thesinking or bedding of the guide-piers, thereby permitting of the headsbeing formed in accordance with the displacement or inclinations whichmay occur in the sinking of the guide-piers. Furthermore, it is onaccount of these eventualities that the walls of the tunnel-sectionshave a certain amount of batter, so as not to impede the sinking thereofand to allow them, if necessary, to be lowered in an angular or obliqueposition. The upper part 25 of the section is surmounted by temporary orremovable cofier-dams 26, serving as {entrance and exit for workmen andmaterials. Pipes 27 for the supply of compressed air are disposed withinthese cofi'er-darns, which remain in place until the connection of thetwo consecutive tunnel-sections has been effected, as will be describedhereinafter.

To close each end of a section of tunnel while it is being put in place,either a watertight metallic cover can be used, which when theconnection of two sections with each other and with the guide-piers hasbeen accomplished can be removed, or the section can be closed bymasonry, as shown at 28, Figs. 8 and 9. This latter system is the mostadvantageous from an economical point, and, furthermore, assures morereadily a good union of the several sections when the junctions areeffected. If the depth of the water permit, the masonry-work of thetunnel-sec- ;tion can be entirelyfinished before it is placed inposition. If not, the finishing must be ,done after the grounding. Inmooring and adjusting in position for grounding a tunnelsection 2 islightened by means of floats 29, Figs. 1 1 and 12, upon which it restson girders 30 and is so towed into position to engage in the recesses ofthe guide-piers, a suitable moment being chosen if working in a tidalriver. The tunnel-section being thus brought to the desired site, it issuspended from the uprights 17 of the jacks, Fig. 5, and the groundingor bedding is proceeded with, the masonry being continued between thesupports, if it is not already finished, and by ballasting whennecessary to overcome the counter-pressure. If at any moment it isobserved that in consequence of the shifting or undermining of the bedor from anyother cause the tunnel-section tends to assume an undesirableposition, it is relifted' and leveled by means of the acks but if theground ing is properly effected the jacks are not brought into action.In fact, these jacks are utilized as auxiliary means, and by their helpthe grounding is thoroughly insured whatever may happen. The mooring inposition being finished, the floats 29 are disengaged, and thetunnel-section is lowered to the required depth by compressed air. Thenthe working chamber is concreted up, and thus one portion of the tunnelis completed.

It may happen that it might be necessary to descend to a lower levelthan that prearranged. In such case it would be easy to build thetunnel-floor 22 higher and apply a bell-caisson over the roof orplatform 23 in which more masonry can be built on the crown, so as tohave the height of the tunnel in all cases as previously determined, nomatter what may be the depth to which the sections may be sunk.

The tunnel-sections being sunk, as above described, between theguide-piers, the joining of the said tunnel-sections together with theguide-piers is then effected in the following manner, (see Figs. 7, S,9, and 10:) The vertical planks or guide-pieces 12 of the guide-piers 1are removed. A bell-caisson 32 is brought into position between thecofferdams 7, over the joint 31, covering it and resting on the upperplatforms 5 and 33 of the caissons of the guide-piers and of thetunnel-section, as well as upon the heads 24 thereof. The cutters 34 ofthis bell are provided with a rabbet, allowing the building incompressed air of a very solid joint between the lower part of thesecutters and. the upper part of the caissons. This done, there areintroduced in the spaces between the packings of the heads 24 of thetunnel-section and the walls 10 of the recess in which the tunnelsectionfits wood planks 35 35, of suitable thickness, below the cutter of thebell 3;. Joints sufficiently water-tight are thus formed to allow thelevel of water to be lowered gradually by compressed air. As fast as thelevel of the water is lowered the rubbish is lifted into the spaces 36,and the joints 3], now out of water, are made solid. In this way thelevel of the cutter 37 and 38 of the caissons of the guide-pieces and ofthe shaft will be reached. Then the bottom will be carefully concretedup. A chamber 36 will have thus been formed in which the iron plates,closing the ends thereof, can be taken down, and then the whole chamberis built *ith masonry, forming a continuous structure of the guide-piersand tunnel-sections. The procedure is the same for the jointing of thetunnel-section on the other side of the guide-pier.

When continuity in masonry is established between two tunnel-sectionsand the intervening guid e-pier, the sections of the tunnel are enteredor penetrated by the coffer-dams 26, Fig. 9. The masonry 28 of thecofferdam is demolished at the ends of the sections of tunnel, and themasonry of the guide-pier 1 is pierced or bored, thus opening upcommunication between two tunnel-sections. The tunnel is then perfectedat the joint 36 and the centerin removed through openings 39 left in thecrown into the coffer-dam 26, those centerings only which are oppositethe opening being allowed to remain to continue and close the vaultuntil the next junction is made. The top of the masonry in thecofferdams is now covered with iron plates and the coifer-dams removedfor use with other caissons. The centerings 19 remaining in the tunnelopposite the coffer-dams 26 are removed prior to proceeding to thejunction of the following elements. The construction of the tunnel suchas just described being advanced by successive sections, the resultthereof is the important advantage of being able to isolate thesesections from each other up to completion of the work, so that should anaccident occur it will be localized in a single section and the rest ofthe work will not suffer. Lastly, if draining-channels be required atthe base of the tunnel-sections a metallic inclosure 40, Fig. 7, isconstructed in the working chambers, and the concrete of these chambersis carried below the gutter at this place, as indicated by the dottedlines 41. Then sinking is completed, the concrete of the inclosure isdemolished, and a perfectlysound draining-gutter is thus formed toreceive the infiltration-waters, which are caused to run into adrain-well, from which they can be removed by pumps or in other suitableway.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved method of constructing masonry structures in rivers, moreparticularly applicable to the construction of subfluvial tunnels,consisting in erecting crosswise of the current and in the axialdirection of the structure, or of the tunnel, guide-piers provided withstarlings and rabbets making tunnel-sections with closed endssuccessively placing such sections between rabbets of the piers; unitingthe tunnel-sections within the piers; removing the end closures andboring the central part of guide-piers to make communication betweenconsecutive tunnel-sections, substantially as described.

2. An improved method of constructing masonry structures in rivers orsubfluvial tunnels, consisting in erecting crosswise of the current andin the axial direction of the tunnel, guide-piers provided withstarlings, rabbets, and strengthening-stays connecting the two ends orheads of each of these piers, and transmitting any tendency to shiftingexerted on any one of the rabbets to the opposite face and to the wholeof the piers, making tunnelsections with closed ends and having at theirtwo ends projecting heads adapted to engage the rabbets in theguidepiers, constructing a masonry lining to join the sections and thepiers; removing the end inclosures of the sections, and boring thecentral part of guide-piers to make communication between consecutivetunnel-sections, substantially as described.

3. An improved method of constructing masonry structures in rivers, orsubfluvial tunnels consisting in erecting crosswise of the current andin the axial direction of the tunnel, guide-piers provided withstarlings, rabbets, strengthening-stays, and guide-pieces surmountingthe said piers and secured by means of girders carrying powerful jacks,making tunnelsections with closed ends: mooring or groundingsuccessively between the guide-pieces of two consecutive guidepiers oneof the said tunnel-sections, the said section being suspended from thesaid jacks whereby it can be moored or grounded in a perfectlyhorizontal position; constructing a masonry joining the tunnel-sectionsand the piers, removing the end inclosures of the sections and boringthe central part of guidepiers to make communication between consecutlvetunnel-sections, substantially as described.

bricked up, removing the end closures and boring the central part ofguide-piers to make communication between consecutive tunnelsections,substantially as described.

5. An improved method of constructing masonry structures in rivers orsubfluvial tunnels consisting in forming guide-piers crosswise of thecurrent; successively mooring or grounding between these piers,tunnel-sections, closed hermetically at their ends, and provided withcotter-dams permitting access to the interior of the saidtunnel-sections; assembling said sections and the piers so as toconstitute a solid body; demolishing the masonry closing the ends of thesaid tunnelsections, and piercing or boring the masonry of the guidepierconnecting two consecutive tunnel-sections, so as to establish thecontinuity of the tunnel between these latter, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRI ,DAYDE. AUGUSTE PILLE. Witnesses:

HANSON 0. 002m, JULEs FAYOLLET.j

